Horror was stamped on every face. One blow had been succeeded by another still more crushing. It was now not only a question of the loss of the schooner. Their very lives might be threatened.
"That scoundrel, Ditty!" gasped the captain.
"It's too bad we pulled Allen off him the other day," ejaculated Tyke savagely. "We ought to have let him finish the job."
"Thank God we've got the weapons anyway!" exclaimed Captain Hamilton.
"Don't think that he hasn't got some too," warned Tyke. "You heard those shots. No doubt the rascal's got all the guns and ammunition he wants. You can gamble on it that he isn't figuring on fighting us with his bare hands."
The captain turned to Rogers and the boat's crew.
"What do you know about this, Mr. Rogers?" he said quietly. "Can we count on you?"
"That you can, Captain," replied Rogers heartily. "I only know what I've told you before, sir."
"And how about you, my lads?" Captain Hamilton continued, addressing the boat's crew. "Are you going to stand with your captain?"
There was a chorus of eager assent. Not one of them flinched or wavered, and indignation was hot in their eyes.